Abstract: A method of encoding a video data signal (15) is provided, together with a method for decoding. The encoding comprises providing color information (51) for pixels in an image, providing a depth map with depth information (52) for the pixels, providing transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71) being representative of a width (63, 73) of a transition region (61, 72) in the image, the transition region (61, 72) comprising a depth transition (62) and blended pixels in which colors of a foreground object and a background object are blended, and generating (24) the video data signal (15) comprising encoded data representing the color information (51), the depth map (52) and the transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71). The decoding comprises using the transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71) for determining the width (63, 73) of the transition regions (61, 72) and for determining alpha values (53) for pixels inside the transition regions (61, 72).

Abstract: A method of encoding a video data signal (15) is provided, together with a method for decoding. The encoding comprises providing color information (51) for pixels in an image, providing a depth map with depth information (52) for the pixels, providing transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71) being representative of a width (63, 73) of a transition region (61, 72) in the image, the transition region (61, 72) comprising a depth transition (62) and blended pixels in which colors of a foreground object and a background object are blended, and generating (24) the video data signal (15) comprising encoded data representing the color information (51), the depth map (52) and the transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71). The decoding comprises using the transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71) for determining the width (63, 73) of the transition regions (61, 72) and for determining alpha values (53) for pixels inside the transition regions (61, 72).

Abstract: A method of encoding a video data signal (15) is provided, together with a method for decoding. The encoding comprises providing color information (51) for pixels in an image, providing a depth map with depth information (52) for the pixels, providing transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71) being representative of a width (63, 73) of a transition region (61, 72) in the image, the transition region (61, 72) comprising a depth transition (62) and blended pixels in which colors of a foreground object and a background object are blended, and generating (24) the video data signal (15) comprising encoded data representing the color information (51), the depth map (52) and the transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71). The decoding comprises using the transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71) for determining the width (63, 73) of the transition regions (61, 72) and for determining alpha values (53) for pixels inside the transition regions (61, 72).

Abstract: A 3-D picture signal is provided as follows. An image and depth components having a depth map for the image are provided, the depth map includes depth indication values. A depth indication value relates to a particular portion of the image and indicates a distance between an object at least partially represented by that particular portion of the image and the viewer. The 3-D picture signal conveys the 3-D picture according to a 3D format having image frames encoding the image. Extra frames (D, D?) are encoded that provide the depth components and further data for use in rendering based on the image and the depth components. The extra frames are encoded using spatial and/or temporal subsampling of the depth components and the further data, while the extra frames are interleaved with the image frames in the signal in a Group of Pictures coding structure (GOP).

Abstract: A method of encoding a video data signal (15) is provided, together with a method for decoding. The encoding comprises providing color information (51) for pixels in an image, providing a depth map with depth information (52) for the pixels, providing transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71) being representative of a width (63, 73) of a transition region (61, 72) in the image, the transition region (61, 72) comprising a depth transition (62) and blended pixels in which colors of a foreground object and a background object are blended, and generating (24) the video data signal (15) comprising encoded data representing the color information (51), the depth map (52) and the transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71). The decoding comprises using the transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71) for determining the width (63, 73) of the transition regions (61, 72) and for determining alpha values (53) for pixels inside the transition regions (61, 72).

Abstract: A method of encoding a video data signal (15) is provided, together with a method for decoding. The encoding comprises providing color information (51) for pixels in an image, providing a depth map with depth information (52) for the pixels, providing transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71) being representative of a width (63, 73) of a transition region (61, 72) in the image, the transition region (61, 72) comprising a depth transition (62) and blended pixels in which colors of a foreground object and a background object are blended, and generating (24) the video data signal (15) comprising encoded data representing the color information (51), the depth map (52) and the transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71). The decoding comprises using the transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71) for determining the width (63, 73) of the transition regions (61, 72) and for determining alpha values (53) for pixels inside the transition regions (61, 72).

Abstract: A combination of image data and depth data is supplied defining luminance and/or color for image positions in an image and distance to objects visible at said image positions respectively. The image data and the depth data are compressed by a compressor (120) and decompressed by a decompressor (16). The depth data is dilated before said compressing, to move an edge between a region of image positions with a relatively smaller distance and a region of image positions with a relatively greater distance towards the region of image positions with a relatively greater distance.

Abstract: A 3-D picture signal is provided as follows. An image and depth components having a depth map for the image are provided, the depth map includes depth indication values. A depth indication value relates to a particular portion of the image and indicates a distance between an object at least partially represented by that particular portion of the image and the viewer. The 3-D picture signal conveys the 3-D picture according to a 3D format having image frames encoding the image. Extra frames (D, D?) are encoded that provide the depth components and further data for use in rendering based on the image and the depth components. The extra frames are encoded using spatial and/or temporal subsampling of the depth components and the further data, while the extra frames are interleaved with the image frames in the signal in a Group of Pictures coding structure (GOP).

Abstract: A 3-D picture is provided by providing a pair of pictures that includes a first picture for one eye of a viewer, and a second picture for the other eye of the viewer. In addition, a depth map specifically dedicated to the first picture is provided. The depth map includes depth indication values. A depth indication value relates to a particular portion of the first picture and indicates a distance between an object at least partially represented by that portion of the first picture and the viewer. The 3-D picture is supplemented with rendering guidance data that specifies respective parameters for respective rendering contexts. These respective parameters relate to generating a shifted viewpoint picture from the first picture and the depth map.

Abstract: A method of processing an image signal comprising image and depth information is provided. The method is configured to perform segmentation on an image based on depth/disparity information present in the image signal comprising said image, and subsequently inpaint background for correction of the errors in the image around the foreground objects into a region that extends beyond the segment boundary of the foreground object and/or inpaint foreground for correction of errors in the image into a region that extends inside the segment boundary of the foreground object. In this way compression and other artifacts may be reduced.

Abstract: A method of encoding a video data signal (15) is provided, the method comprising providing at least a first image (21) of a scene (100) as seen from a first viewpoint, providing rendering information (22) for enabling the generation of at least one rendered image of the scene (100) as seen from a rendering viewpoint, providing a preferred direction indicator (23), defining a preferred orientation of the rendering viewpoint relative to the first viewpoint, and generating (24) the video data signal (15) comprising encoded data representing the first image, the rendering information and the preferred direction indicator.

Abstract: A method of generating a plurality of depth maps for a plurality of images comprises receiving a first image, obtaining information relating to the shot defined by the first image, generating a depth map for the first image according to a first schema, receiving a second image, obtaining information relating to the shot defined by the second image, detecting a change in the obtained information between the first and second image, and generating a depth map for the second image according to a second schema, the second schema having a complexity different from that of the first schema. The method can comprise accessing first and second depth models. In one embodiment, the first schema comprises the first depth model, and the second schema comprises the second model, and in a second embodiment the first schema comprises the first depth model, and the second schema comprises a combination of the first and the second depth models.

Abstract: A device and apparatus for processing a depth-map including obtaining a depth-map based on a lossy compressed depth-map, the depth-map including depth information of a scene from a viewpoint, the scene includes an object; obtaining occlusion information for the scene from the viewpoint, the occlusion information including information occluded by the object in the depth-map; and processing at least part of the depth information using at least part of the occlusion information in order to reduce compression artifacts in the depth-map.

Abstract: In a method for encoding and an encoder for a 3D video signal, center view frames, a depth map for center view frames and an occlusion data frame are encoded. On the basis of the depth map for the center view frame a distinction is made between functional and non-functional data in an occlusion data frame. This allows a strong reduction in bits needed for the encoded occlusion data frame. In the decoder a combined data stream is made of functional data in the encoded occlusion data frames and the center view frames. Preferably the center view frames are used as reference frames in encoding the occlusion data frames.

Abstract: A method of encoding a video data signal (15) is provided, together with a method for decoding. The encoding comprises providing color information (51) for pixels in an image, providing a depth map with depth information (52) for the pixels, providing transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71) being representative of a width (63, 73) of a transition region (61, 72) in the image, the transition region (61, 72) comprising a depth transition (62) and blended pixels in which colors of a foreground object and a background object are blended, and generating (24) the video data signal (15) comprising encoded data representing the color information (51), the depth map (52) and the transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71). The decoding comprises using the transition information (56, 57, 60, 70, 71) for determining the width (63, 73) of the transition regions (61, 72) and for determining alpha values (53) for pixels inside the transition regions (61, 72).

Abstract: A device converts three dimensional [3D] image data arranged for a source spatial viewing configuration to a 3D display signal (56) for a 3D display in a target spatial viewing configuration. 3D display metadata has target width data indicative of a target width W t of the 3D display in the target spatial viewing configuration. A processor (52,18) changes the mutual horizontal position of images L and R by an offset O to compensate differences between the source spatial viewing configuration and the target spatial viewing configuration. The processor (52) retrieves source offset data provided for the 3D image data for calculating the offset O, and determines the offset O in dependence of the source offset data. Advantageously the 3D perception for the viewer is automatically adapted based on the source offset data as retrieved to be substantially equal irrespective of the screen size.

Abstract: A method of encoding a video data signal (15) is provided, the method comprising providing at least a first image (21) of a scene (100) as seen from a first viewpoint, providing rendering information (22) for enabling the generation of at least one rendered image of the scene (100) as seen from a rendering viewpoint, providing a preferred direction indicator (23), defining a preferred orientation of the rendering viewpoint relative to the first viewpoint, and generating (24) the video data signal (15) comprising encoded data representing the first image, the rendering information and the preferred direction indicator.

Abstract: A conversion unit for converting a first motion vector field (MVF1) into a second motion vector field (MVF2). The first motion vector field being computed, on basis of a first image and a second image of a sequence of images, for a temporal position between the first and second images. A first establishing means establishes a first group of un-referenced pixels in the first image. A second establishing means establishes a second group of un-referenced pixels in the second image. A computing means computes a match error of a candidate motion vector oriented from the first group of un-referenced pixels to the second group of un-referenced pixels. A comparing means for comparing the match error with a predetermined match threshold and assigning the candidate motion vector to one of the motion vectors of the second motion vector field if the match error is below the predetermined match threshold.

Abstract: When transforming a 2.5D video format to a plurality of images viewed from different virtual positions, it can occur that for certain output pixels, no input data is available. Therefore, these output pixels do not have any definite values assigned in their pixel locations. These unassigned pixel values cause artifacts called ‘holes’ in the transformed images. A method of hole filling or assigning pixel values in a region (110) comprising pixel locations of unassigned pixel values in an image (100) is provided. A direction (140) of an image feature (160) relative to a first pixel location (120) is estimated in a first neighborhood (130) adjoining the region (110) of unassigned pixel values. A second set of pixel values is selected from pixel locations in the estimated direction (140) from the first pixel location (120). A third set of pixel values are computed from the second set of pixel values.

Abstract: A method of generating a plurality of depth maps for a plurality of images comprises receiving a first image, obtaining information relating to the shot defined by the first image, generating a depth map for the first image according to a first schema, receiving a second image, obtaining information relating to the shot defined by the second image, detecting a change in the obtained information between the first and second image, and generating a depth map for the second image according to a second schema, the second schema having a complexity different from that of the first schema. The method can comprise accessing first and second depth models. In one embodiment, the first schema comprises the first depth model, and the second schema comprises the second model, and in a second embodiment the first schema comprises the first depth model, and the second schema comprises a combination of the first and the second depth models.